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2024 Winter Solstice Sweat Lodge for Veterans

1/10/2025

Healing is believing.

Veteran Needs 911 ER at Non-VA Facility; Call this # for VA to Pay/Transfer Care

4/2/2024

Getting emergency care at non-VA facilities

Call: 1-844-724-7842

Our co-founder Lt. Col. (Ret) Rene' Locklear White helps veterans with their benefits.

Emergency Treatment to VA through VA's Emergency Care Reporting (ECR) portal, https://EmergencyCareReporting.CommunityCare.va.gov or by calling 844-72HRVHA (844-724-7842) to coordinate follow-on care and transfer activities, if necessary.

If you think your life or health is in danger, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department. You don’t need to check with them first.

But if you go to a non-VA facility—even one that’s in the VA's community care network—you must follow certain rules so that they can cover the cost of your care. Read more here to learn what you need to know if you go to a non-VA facility for emergency care.

LINK

Hope on the Healing Mountain: Lumbee Warrior Fights Rare Disease in Search for Cure

12/25/2019

By Lauren Winebrenner
Tuesday, December 24, 2019
Martinsburg VA Medical Center

As indigenous people, we have unique perspectives on life, family and sickness. “We believe that most illness starts with the spirit – it invades the mind, and then manifests itself physically,” said Chris in this U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs interview. “When Carla came, we talked to her about the spiritual aspect of her care and verbalizing positive language into existence.”

Read the FULL STORY written by Lauren Winebrenner here.

Full Article

It’s not predictable and at times it is very tough for Carla, but she fights on and continues to live her vision statement: “To be on a healing journey, on a healing mountain and search for a cure”

We are proud at the Sanctuary on the Trail to be part of Carla's journey and to be interviewed by the Department of Veteran Affairs. Blessings to all and to good possibilities in 2020.

Meanwhile, storyboard your problems and find solutions to create a life you are happiest living.

Know Someone Who Needs Veteran Housing Benefits?

1/16/2018

Ask Our
Local Housing Team

Martinsburg VA in West Virginia
304-263-0811 ext. 4553 ext. 4676.

Homeless Veteran Hotline
1-877-4AID-VET (1-877-424-3838)

Each VA Regional Office has a Homeless Veterans Outreach Coordinator who is a direct point of contact for you to learn more about what benefits you qualify for, assist you with applying for those benefits, and refer you to other organizations and resources that will help you get back on your feet.

To find your local Homeless Veterans Outreach Coordinator, please visit the nearest VA Regional Office or call VA's National Call Center for Homeless Veterans at 1-877-4AID-VET (1-877-424-3838).
https://www.va.gov/homeless/hud-vash.asp.

VFW Helps Veterans Get Unpaid Bills Paid

1/16/2018

VFW Helps Veterans Get Unmet Needs Met:

APPLY:
- PHONE 1-866-789-6333
- EMAIL [email protected]
- ONLINE https://www.vfw.org/assistance/financial-grants

Eligibility

Expenses Eligible for payment:

Household expenses – mortgage, rent, repairs, insurance.
Vehicle expenses – payments, insurance, repairs (major repairs for vehicles over ten years old will not be considered).
Utilities.
Food and clothing.
Children’s clothing, diapers, formula, school or childcare expenses.
Medical bills, prescriptions & eyeglasses – the patient’s portion for necessary or emergency medical care only.

Traditional PTSD Therapies Favored by VA Hospitals - The Sweat Lodge

7/23/2016

Sweat Lodge Leader?

Individuals who wish to conduct Native American religious ceremonies for Veterans in a Veteran's Affairs Medical Center, should contact the Chief of Chaplain Services at the center and inform him or her of your availability.

NPR Photo of VA Sweat Lodge

NPR Story

MANY NEEDED TO HELP MANY

"These and other traditional healing therapies are the treatment of choice for many Native American veterans according to a survey conducted at Washington State University."

University. Military.com
     Native American veterans battling Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) find relief and healing through an alternative treatment called the Sweat Lodge ceremony offered at the Spokane Veterans Administration Hospital.
     In the Arizona desert, wounded warriors from the Hopi Nation can join in a ceremony called Wiping Away the Tears. The traditional cleansing ritual helps dispel a chronic "ghost sickness" that can haunt survivors of battle.
     These and other traditional healing therapies are the treatment of choice for many Native American veterans according to a recent survey being conducted at Washington State University.
     The findings will be presented at the American Psychological Association conference in Washington D.C. Here are the The Survey questions asked to Native American veterans.

Anger Management Course Designed for Veterans and other Uniformed Personnel

3/4/2015

AIMS (Anger and Irritability Management Skills) online course is based on training that was developed specifically for Veterans and has been successfully used by Veterans and Service Members around the world. This course offers a wide range of practical skills and tools to manage your anger and develop self-control over your thoughts and actions.

START COURSE

There are eight modules, each containing videos, games and interactive exercises:

1. Getting Started Managing Your Anger
2. Understanding Your Anger
3. Breaking the Aggression Cycle
4. Behavioral Tools to Manage Your Anger

5. Cognitive Tools to Manage Your Anger
6. Conflicts and Communication
7. Your Anger Control Plan
8. Making It Work

Veteran Crisis Line and Other Help

2/12/2015

Veterans Crisis Line
1 (800)273-8255 FREE (Press 1)
http://www.veteranscrisisline.net/

Suicide Prevention

Learn to Recognize the Signs

Veteran Resource Center — a trio of free and confidential online training courses created specifically to equip Servicemembers and Veterans with practical skills and tools they can use daily. These courses are ideal for individuals who want to learn skills at the time, place and pace of their choosing. These interactive courses feature real Veterans and military families who share their stories and offer lessons learned. The courses are:
Moving Forward: teaches skills to overcome stressful problems such as difficulties transitioning from military to civilian life, balancing work/school and family, coping with physical injuries, and relationship issues.
Parenting for Service Members & Veterans: offers parents ways to reconnect with their children and strengthen their family. It covers everyday parenting and family issues, as well as those unique to the military lifestyle.
Anger & Irritability Management (AIMS): provides practical tools to better understand anger “triggers,” and to keep control of your reactions during difficult situations. It also teaches communication skills to help you get along better with people.
AboutFace — provides a way to learn about PTSD from Veterans who live with it. Veterans share their stories about the challenges they have faced and how treatment has helped them turn their lives around. Also hear from family members who explain how their lives were improved once their loved-one sought treatment.
Coaching into Care — offers telephone-based support and coaching for family members who would like to help their Servicemember or Veteran get mental health care treatment. This confidential service can also help military family members learn new ways to talk with their loved-one about the difficulties they face and why treatment can help.

These are just some of the VA resources available to help Servicemembers and Veterans start and improve the next chapter of their lives. Many other important resources — such as Veterans Crisis Line (1-800-273-8255 FREE) and Make the Connection — can be found at mentalhealth.va.gov and ptsd.va.gov.

Veteran Services

Anger Management Course Online

New Anger Management Course Now Available

More Resources

Military eBenefits Help through The Native American Church

1/20/2015

     Beginning Jan. 25, The Native American Church of Virginia is available to help veterans with the new eBenefits portal.
     On Sunday, the Department of Defense and Department of Veteran Affairs eBenefits unveils a new look and feel on their web portal to enhance access to over 55 self-service capabilities and overall experience for Veterans, Service members, and their families.
    "If veterans or their families need help with their eBenefits, our church staff is here to assist you to better find, apply for, and manage military benefits and claims," said Rene' White (Feather) church president and military veteran. "Why? Because we care about our neighbors and we’re doing something about it."

E-Claim easier for Veterans to Apply for Disability Compensation

11/19/2014

Native American Church of VA -- Sleep apnea?
Aggravated back pain? Your current health could be a service-connected disability.
    Your Veteran disability is an entitlement for you and your family. Get your compensation. Get your benefits. Get your peace of mind.
     This 14:00 minute video walks you or your loved one through the step-by-step process for filing an electronic Fully Developed Claim (FDC) for disability compensation on the VA/DoD eBenefits web portal.
     Help us help others apply for their benefits. Your local Veteran Service Organization (VSO) can also assist you.